BILL NUMBER: SCR 91	CHAPTERED  09/20/00

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   156
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 20, 2000
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   AUGUST 25, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Polanco

                        AUGUST 14, 2000

   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 91--Relative to the Joint
Legislative Committee on Prison Construction and Operations.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 91, Polanco.  Joint Legislative Committee on Prison
Construction and Operations.
   This measure would reestablish the Joint Legislative Committee on
Prison Construction and Operations to assume primary responsibility
for providing legislative scrutiny over prison construction and
operations, including investigation of inmate population management
issues.




   WHEREAS, The Department of Corrections currently operates 33 state
adult correctional facilities, 38 camps, and 56 community
correctional facilities, housing more than 155,000 inmates.  The
Department of Corrections also retains jurisdiction over more than
100,000 parolees; and
   WHEREAS, Public safety remains a high priority for Californians.
In addition, Californians are demanding greater fiscal accountability
for the operation of correctional facilities; and
   WHEREAS, Controlling the rapid growth of corrections construction
and operations costs is one of the greatest challenges facing this
state.  The total proposed budget for the Department of Corrections
for the 2000-01 fiscal year exceeds $5,100,000,000; and
   WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution 67 of the 1998-99 Regular
Session reauthorized the existence of the Joint Legislative Committee
on Prison Construction and Operations until November 30, 2000; and
   WHEREAS, In order to provide for joint legislative oversight of
the state's fastest growing segment of government, and to ensure a
sense of fiscal responsibility to the people of California, it is
vital that the Legislature reestablish the Joint Legislative
Committee on Prison Construction and Operations; now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Joint Legislative Committee on Prison
Construction and Operations is hereby reestablished.  The committee
shall assume primary responsibility for providing legislative
scrutiny over prison construction and operations; and be it further
   Resolved, That the committee shall also review and make
recommendations on inmate population management issues as they affect
problems of overcrowding, recidivism, and the successful return to
society by inmates; and be it further
   Resolved, That the committee shall consist of four Members of the
Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and four Members
of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.  A Member
of the Senate shall chair the committee.  The chairperson shall
appoint staff persons who shall be authorized to inspect prison
facilities and departmental documents, except as otherwise provided
by law; and be it further
   Resolved, That the committee and its members shall have all of the
rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees
and their members by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly as
they are adopted and amended from time to time, which rules are
incorporated herein and made applicable to this committee and its
members; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Senate Committee on Rules may make money
available from the Senate Operating Fund as it deems necessary for
the expenses of the Joint Legislative Committee on Prison
Construction and Operations and its members.  Any expenditure of
money shall be made in compliance with policies set forth by the
Senate Committee on Rules and shall be subject to the approval of the
Senate Committee on Rules; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on Prison
Construction and Operations shall, within 15 days of authorization
and consistent with the normal annual appropriations process for
funding legislative committees, present its initial budget to the
Senate Committee on Rules for its review, comment, and approval; and
be it further
   Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on Prison
Construction and Operations shall submit a report at the end of each
legislative session to the Legislature on its activities; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on Prison
Construction and Operations is authorized to act until November 30,
2002, at which time the committee's existence shall terminate; and be
it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit a suitably
prepared copy of this resolution to the author for appropriate
distribution.
